Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 Volkswagen Eos problems
Owners filed 69 complaints about the 2010 Volkswagen Eos with NHTSA between Mar 2011 and Jan 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (24).
Complaints
69
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags24
- Power train22
- Engine9
- Service brakes6
- Electrical system5
- Steering3
- Exterior lighting2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Service brakes, air1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Traction control system1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Visibility1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
0
2
5
18
12
10
8
4
4
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
24 reports2 related recalls
“LAST WEEK, WHILE TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A SOUND LIKE RUBBER GRINDING. IMMEDIATELY, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED INDICATING AN AIRBAG FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE BEGAN A LANE CHANGE WHILE I WAS IN ITS BLIND SPOT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN TO ALERT THE OTHER MOTORIST TO AVOID COLLISION, HOWEVER THE CAR'S HORN FAILED. THE ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED, BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS UNNERVING. MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VW SERVICE CENTER ON 10/5/18, AND WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING, A REPAIR WHICH SHE WAS TOLD WAS UNCOVERED BY RECALL. WE WERE A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS, BECAUSE THE DEALER HAD JUST PERFORMED A TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE IN FEBRUARY, THEN TODAY WE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIRBAG BUT NOT THIS RELATED ISSUE. SOME INVESTIGATION IN ONLINE PUBLICATIONS LIKE FORBES, INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CLOCK SPRING IN 2015, WITH THIS VEHICLE LISTED IN THE MODEL LIST AND PRODUCTION DATES. HOWEVER, VW DOES NOT LIST THIS RECALL UNDER OUR VIN NUMBER. AGAIN WE ARE SUSPICIOUS. IT IS OUR FEELING THAT THE…”
Power train
22 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen EOS. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle stalled. The message "Transmission Overheating. See Owner’s Manual" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V333000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to follow up with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.”
Engine
9 reports
“Drove the car to the bank when trying to leave the car would not start. We towed the car to the volkswagen dealership `and they said it the engine and some other faults totaling over $21000.00 Now the car is back home and not repaired.”
Service brakes
6 reports
“ABS CONTROL MODULE IS DISPLAYING FAULT CODE 01130; THIS IS A RECALL ON CERTAIN VW AND AUDI'S MANUFACTURED IN 2009 THRU 2014. CAR IS SKIDDING ON WET ROAD AS THIS AFFECTS TRACTION CONTROL, TOO. HAS VW CONSIDERED A BROADER RECALL OF THE ABS MODULE.”
Electrical system
5 reports
“INITIALLY, THE LEFT FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER A DAY, THE STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. A WEEK LATER ALMOST ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND INDICATORS CEASED WORKING. THIS WAS THE CASE WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING AND STATIONARY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WAS A MELTED FUSEBOX. *TR”
Steering
3 reports
“SEPT 20515 - SAFETY RECALL 69L2 - STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING, REPLACED 2016 - WENT OUT AGAIN 9-20, 5 YEARS LATER. VW DENIED REPLACEMENT AS IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOESN'T STAY ON. THE HORN, DOESN'T WORK, OR OTHER CONTROL ON STEERING COLUMN. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SQUEAKING IN AUG. 2020. IT STARED AS I WAS DRIVING, HAD TO USE HORN TO STOP SOMEONE FROM BACKING INTO ME AND IT DIDN'T WORK, THOUGHT I PERHAPS DIDN'T PRESS HORN HARD ENOUGH, NOT THE CASE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO, ETC. ANYTHING CONTROLLED BY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. I NEED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. ALSO THE "AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR" STOPPED WORKING, REPLACED I HAD TO PAY.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.